Invader Julie(Chpt. 4)

Dib opened his eyes slowly. It was quiet. He sat up on his arm slightly, looking around for Julie. He finally heard her talking to herself in her sleep. Dib peered over the edge of the table. She had fallen over on her side, antenna drooped over her face. Dib blinked.
Julie began muttering again. "....mom......" Dib squinted an eye. Julie twitched, rolling onto her stomach. Dib sat up, feet hanging off, still looking down at her. Julie's antenna quivered as she closed her eyes tighter. "...no....stop...lepase.."
"What?"
Julie had started speaking Caujon. She rolled onto her back, whimpering. "..tops...on..lepase..nod't od hist...aleve reh anole..."
Dib slid off the table and kneeled down beside Julie. "..Julie?"
She had started breathing faster. She twitched again. "On.....TOPS!!" Her breathing increased, antenna quivering.
Dib grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Julie!!" Julie's eyes snapped open, sitting up quickly, panting. Dib backed up slightly to give her room. Julie closed her eyes, calming down slightly. "Are you alright?"
Julie opened her eyes and looked at him. "Y-yeah.."
"What happened?"
Julie shook her head, eyes closing. "Nightmare.."
"Oh.." Dib stood up. "And what were you saying? You were saying something....weird.."
Julie was looking up at him. "Oh...prolly something in Caujon..my planet's language.." Dib nodded then held his hand out. Julie looked at his hand and reached up, grabbing hold of it. Dib pulled, helping her up. She smiled. "Thanks.."
Dib didn't let go of her hand and smiled a little too. "Sure.." Julie looked down at their hands, then back up at Dib. Dib looked down at their hands too, then let go. "..sorry..."
Julie smiled again. "It's okay.." Dib slightly smiled, then looked away. Julie lowered her antenna. "You okay?" Dib nodded, walking over to the computer chair and sat. Julie just watched him, antenna falling slightly. Dib was looking at the floor, silent. Julie walked over slowly and stopped in front of him. "Dib?"
He looked up slightly. "Yes?"
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Dib nodded slowly. "Yes..I'm fine..." Julie lowered her antenna. Dib watched her antenna lower and sighed. "I don't know..I...feel confused..I don't know what to do.."
"What's confusing you?"
Dib looked down a bit. "Well, for one, I'm wondering why you care for me..no one else likes me.."
Julie blinked. "I...I..uh..well.." She looked away nervously. "Um..I dunno, I just do.."
"But wouldn't you like one of your own species?"
"You..you don't have to..and no, I don't want to like an Irken.."
Dib looked up at her. "Why not?"
Julie's antenna fell further. "Just..bad experience..."
"What, you had one?" Julie closed her eyes and nodded slowly. ".....well at least you had someone." Dib closed his eyes halfway and looked away..
Julie opened her eyes slightly. "He wasn't worth it..he didn't really love me.."
Dib started to say 'who would', but hesitated. No..I won't..
"Dib? Have you ever liked anyone?"
Dib glanced up at her. "No...that's kind of hard to do when everyone thinks you're crazy.."
"Yea..I was the same way..."
"They thought you were crazy too?"
Julie looked down. "No, they just hated me.."
"What for?"
Julie sighed. "I don't know.."
Dib looked down slightly. "Oh..I'm sorry.."
Julie looked back up at him. "Thank..you...I'll help you out with your life, I'll let you show me to your..earth scientists.."
"No!" Dib answered very quickly, then stuttered. "I...uh..you know, you....saved my life, so..no, don't.."
Julie had looked up at him when he said 'no', and was just looking at him blankly. "But you'd be famous..and we're not exactly friends anway....are we?"
Dib shook his head very slowly, then nodded. "Gah...I don't know..I mean....you're the only one that's said they care about me, and shown it..and I like that, actually being cared for, but..you're an alien...something that I've been trying to prove to the world all my life and...jeez!! I'm just..so confused.."
Julie's antenna drooped. "The only think I could tell you to do would be to pick one.."
"Pick one? It doesn't matter to you?"
"No..either way you'll be happy..right?"
Dib looked up slightly. "Yeah..if I'm cared for, I'll be happy, and if I'm famous I'll be happy…but..I really don't want to give up my opportunity to see the universe..see? There I go again! Confusing myself! I don't know what to do!"
Julie sighed. "Why don't you wait and see which one you'll like more?"
Now Dib sighed. "Yea..I guess…" Julie looked away slightly, then to her computer, to Dib, and on around the lab, Dib watching her. Julie then stopped, looking at Dib from the corner of her eye. Dib blinked. She grinned and plopped down in his lap, sitting on him. Dib blinked again. "..what are you doing?"
"Sitting."
"I can see that..you went me to get up?"
Julie's eyes half-closed, smiling a little. "No.."
Dib blankly stared at her, then sighed, eyes half-closing sarcastically. "So you're just going to sit here? On my lap?" Julie nodded, sticking her tongue out. Dib opened one eye, seeing her tongue, then half-closed it back, laying his head back into the chair.
Julie blinked, bringing her tongue back in her mouth, antenna lowering. "You okay?"
Dib nodded. "Yea, fine." Julie raised her antenna slightly and leaned back on Dib, closing her eyes. Dib opened his eyes again, looking at Julie. She say there, breathing slowly. Dib blinked and slumped down slightly, sighing. "Fine, you can sleep on me if you want."
Julie opened her eyes, looking at him. "You don't mind?"
Dib shrugged. "Either way you're going to, I'm your 'slave', remember?"
"…yes..but if you mind, I'll get up.."
"No, I don't really.." Julie smiled and closed her eyes, laying her head down on his shoulder. Dib continued to watch her, then closed his eyes. Julie's antenna quivered, her beginning to purr. Dib's eyes snapped open, looking at her. She just say there, purring lowly. "J-..J-julie?"
She opened her eyes slightly and glanced up at Dib. "..yes?"
"You…..you're..purring..like a cat…"
She closed her eyes back, nodding slowly. "..Irkens purr when they're happy.."
"You're..happy?…why?"
"Because….I just am.." Dib blinked. Julie continued to purr, nuzzling into his neck. Dib lifted his head, closing his eyes. She finally relaxed, nuzzled into him.
Happy?…how can anyone be happy around me?.. Dib sighed. Julie wrapped her arms around his neck, antenna falling limp. Dib opened one eye slightly and smiled a little, wrapping his arms around her waist, closing his eye back. Julie purred a little louder, nuzzling in deeper. They sat there for a few minutes, just cuddling in silence with the exception of Julie's purr. Dib finally opened his eyes a little, just staring off. Julie was still purring, eyes closed. Dib looked at her, wondering what to do, whether he should let her sleep or not. He sighed, running his fingers up her back slowly. Julie's antenna quivered slightly. Dib stopped at her mid-back and looked at her antenna. He moved his hand up to her antenna and took one in his hand. They quivered again, Dib closing his hand around it. He closed his eyes and moved his fingers up the antenna, feeling it. It was smooth, not rough like he thought it would be. Julie stifled a giggle and coughed. Dib opened his eyes and looked back at Julie. She yawned and opened her eyes slightly, looking up at him. Dib looked back and smiled slightly. Julie smiled and looked at her right antenna, which Dib was still holding. Dib looked at her antenna as well and let go, moving his hand away from her head and rested it on her back again, near his other one. Julie quivered her antenna and smiled, nuzzling into his neck again. Dib lifted his head again, smiling a little more. Julie started to purr again, sighing. Dib closed his eyes, listening to her purr. Julie ran her claws on his neck slowly, Dib shuddering slightly. Then he grinned. "..hey….that tickles.." He spoke lowly.
Julie smiled and opened her eyes, speaking at the same volume. "..it tickled when you held my antenna too.."
"…heh.."
"You seem..more comfortable now.."
Dib nodded slowly. "Yea…I guess….you're not going to hurt me anymore, are you?"
Julie shook her head, still nuzzled into him. "No.."
Dib smiled. "..if you don't hurt me, then I won't tell other humans you're here…"
Julie purred again. "…kay.." Dib held her closer, listening to her purr. She suddenly stopped as she opened her eyes. "The mission.."
"Hmm?" Dib opened his eyes as well, looking at her.
Julie looked at Dib. "My mission…I'm supposed to destroy earth.." Dib got a rather sad-looking face and looked down, to the side. Julie sighed, seeing his reaction. "But I can't..I'd be destroying your home…" Dib nodded. "…but if I don't..then most likely I'd be killed.." She sighed again, antenna falling.
Dib looked back at her. "You'd die to save earth? Just a while ago you said you were going to destroy it.."
Julie closed her eyes. "Well, yea, for you I guess.."
"You….you would do that..for me?.." Julie nodded, laying her head back down on his shoulder. "..wow…no one..no one's ever done anything for me…" He smiled, closing his eyes again, bringing Julie closer to him. Julie whimpered lowly, burying her face in his shoulder. Dib noticed she was upset and sighed, putting his hand on the back of her head. "Julie..it's okay…" Her antenna fell. Dib began to hum very lowly to calm her down. Julie stopped whimpering, her eyes wet slightly and just listened to him. Dib continued to hum, holding her close. Julie nuzzled into his shoulder. Dib opened his eyes somewhat looking at her, still humming lowly. Julie didn't move, she just sat there, listening to him hum. Dib smiled and ran his fingers through her hair slowly. Julie's antenna quivered, her purring very lowly. Dib stopped humming, hearing her purr. "Julie?"
She opened her eyes slightly, looking up at Dib. "..hmm?"
"You feel better now?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes.."
"That's good…" Dib rested his hand on her back. She smiled a little and her antenna fell limply. Dib closed his eyes, sighing. Julie ran her claws slowly on his neck, to the sides and ran them up. Dib lifted his head. Julie smiled, continuing to do that slowly, closing her eyes as well. Dib laid his head back into the chair, sighing in comfort. Julie continued, purring lowly. Dib was breathing slowly and began to knead her shirt slightly. Julie opened her eyes somewhat then smiled, continuing. Dib began to hum again.
Julie just kept running her claws on his neck, gazing at him. ..I said I wouldn't like a human…oh well.. Dib twitched. Julie opened her eyes a little more. "Dib?" She stopped running her claws, her hands just resting on his neck. He didn't answer, just laying there. Julie moved her hand to his cheek, moving his head so she could see him more easily. "..Dib?" He still didn't answer. She smiled, noticing he was asleep. She laid his head back and let go slowly, sliding off his lap very slow so as not to wake him up. She kissed him lightly, antenna quivering. "Sleep well, Dib.." She ran a claw across his cheek and around to his chin, then slowly backed off, heading for the stairs. She went upstairs, shutting the lab door behind her. Vir was curled in a ball on the couch, sleeping. Julie walked over to the couch, seeing her and smiled. "She's asleep too.." She sighed and went into the kitchen, pulling out a chair at the table and sat. She looked around the kitchen, tapping her claws on the table slowly. "Nyah..what to do.." She looked at the stove and blinked. "Both Vir and Dib are asleep…" Suddenly there was a beep. Julie's antenna jerked up, her surprised. "..wha?" Julie reached to her waist and pulled a beeper from one of her belt loops. Sure enough, it was her beeper, because it had just beeped again. She pushed a button on the side. "Julie speaking.."
"~Julie?..this is Red..~"
Julie's antenna lowered a bit. "Greetings..my Tallest.."
"~Yes, yes, well..do you still have that Dib human thing?~"
Her antenna lowered more, thinking she knew what he wanted. "Uhm..yes…why?"
"~Good, I want you to bring him to Irk for testing..~"
Julie nearly dropped her beeper, shocked. "B-…b-but..can I bring you a different human?"
"~No, I want that one! What, it's not like you like him is it?~"
Julie closed her eyes. "…..no..my Tallest.."
"~Good, bring him to Irk as soon as possible, understand?~"
"Yes…Tallest Red…."
"~Good, good. Alright, yea..I'm done.~" There was a click as Red ended his transmission. Julie sat there, then slowly put away the beeper, her eyes damp. "No…why..Dib….." A tear rolled down her cheek slowly as her antenna fell limply. She sighed closing her eyes. "I knew something like this would happen.." She sighed again, sadly as she stood up slowly. "..might as well…go tell him.." She walked out of the kitchen and to her lab door, opening it and going down the stairs slowly. Dib was still slumped down in the computer chair, head leaned back, fast asleep. Julie walked up beside the chair, antenna lowered. She watched him, not wanting to wake him up. He was breathing slowly, his stomach moving up and down along with his breathing. Julie's antenna fell further as she put her hand on his shoulder and lightly shook him. "…Dib?.." He didn't answer. Julie shook him again.
Dib groaned slightly and opened his eyes a bit. "…ehh….?.."
Julie took a step back. "Sorry I had to wake you.."
Dib looked at Julie, eyes half-closed. "It's okay.." He yawned slightly, leaning his head back. "..what is it?.."
Julie tapped her fingers together, looking down a bit. "…well..you see….I got..this, transmission while you were asleep.."
"..from who?..those…Almight of yours..?"
Julie nodded slowly, closing her eyes. "Yes..the Red one…Red….he..he said he…wanted…..you…for….testing.."
Dib's eyes snapped open, head jerking up, looking at her. "What?!" Julie winced, nodding slowly again. Dib glared at her. "Oh, so this is the thanks I get for not killing you?! I end up getting killed??"
A tear rolled down Julie's cheek. "I..I had no choice.."
"You said you'd die to save earth, but you won't die to save me?! Why did I ever trust an alien?!" Dib growled, looking away angrily.
Julie opened her eyes slowly, crying somewhat. "Di-"
"Don't speak to me.." Julie's antenna fell sharply. "Fine, take me to your leader..get me killed, destroy earth..see if I care!" He stood up from the chair, glaring at Julie again. Julie watched him silently, tears falling. Dib scowled. "C'mon, I want the last few moments of my life not memorable.."
Julie sighed sadly, turning around. "..follow me.." She started for the stairs. Dib glared at her and followed. She went into the living room. Vir was sitting on the couch. Julie glanced at her. "Vir..watch the base until I return.."
Vir blinked, looking at her. "Oki.."
Julie lowered her head, heading upstairs again. Dib was waiting behind her and followed her upstairs, glaring at Vir before going up. Julie continued up the next flight, going up to the attic. Dib looked down the hall, then up at Julie. He had never been out of the lab. He sighed and followed her, Julie already in the attic, opening the door to her cruiser.
Dib walked into the attic, looking at her ship. "-That's- your ship..?" Julie looked back at him slightly and nodded slowly. Dib scowled. "Thought it'd be more advanced.." Julie's antenna fell as he walked over. "Where do I sit?" Julie looked inside and slowly pointed to the passenger seat. Dib's eyes half-closed as he climbed in and sat in the seat, slumping down, crossing his arms. Julie got in slowly, shutting the door, antenna lowered as she cranked the runner. Dib watched the door shut, then glanced at Julie. Her antenna were lowered, tears falling again as she flipped a switch, the roof of her house opening. Dib watched a tear as it fell down her cheek. "..why are you crying?"
Julie looked at Dib slightly. She looked down, lowering her head as she closed her eyes, another tear falling. "…I..I don't..I don't want you to..die.."
Dib glared at her, then looked away. "Maybe you should've thought about that before..now let's go.." Julie sighed shakily, putting her hands on the control sticks, head lowered still. She pulled back on the sticks, the runner lifting off the floor slowly. Dib squinted an eye, Julie lifted her head, eyes still watering. She pushed a button, seat belts coming out and over her and Dib's laps and shoulders. Dib opened one eye fully, then closed both of them half-way. "Tch.." Julie glanced at Dib slightly, then pushed forward on the control sticks since they were already out of the roof and zoomed off into the sky, her roof closing. Dib crossed his arms and leaned back in the seat. Julie glanced at him slightly, then looked back outside, pushing the thrusters, clearing the atmosphere and zooming into space. Dib watched as they left the earth, then shifted his gaze to the moon. Julie turned on the solar power along with the energy and thrusters, the cruiser speeding up. Dib watched the stars, then watched Mars, them passing it. Julie put the runner on cruise, leaning back in her chair, slumping down. Dib glanced at her slightly. She had her arms crossed, eyes closed, and antenna lowered. Dib glared somewhat and looked away. "How long will it take to get there?"
Julie didn't move. "….about an hour."
"Can this thing go any faster?"
Julie flicked an antenna. "No, we're going at full speed.."
Dib watched her antenna. "..how fast it that?"
"About two times the speed of light.."
Dib laughed slightly. "Nothing can go fa-"
"Well -we- are.." Julie interrupted.
Dib glared. "Don't interrupt me.."
"Then don't question my ship's speed."
Dib stuck his lip out and looked outside. They were a long way away from Dib's solar system. Julie opened her eyes a bit, looking out the window, the cruiser rapidly approaching a comet. Julie watched as they passed it, Dib watching also. Julie sighed, closing her eyes again. Dib looked at her. She was breathing slowly. Dib stared at her for a minute before looking down, closing his own eyes. ..gah…I don't see why I'm mad at Julie..it's not her fault….oh well, I guess..everyone else will be better off with me dead..earth will be destroyed, who cares…

~45 Minutes Later~

The computer beeped. Dib looked at the computer. Julie didn't open her eyes. "..yes?"
"-We are close to Irk.-"
"…." Julie opened her eyes slightly. Dib closed his eyes half-way and looked away. Julie took the controls, taking the runner off cruise. She switched off the solar energy, running solely on fuel. Irk was ahead, but the Massive, the Tallest's ship, was closer. Julie turned towards the Massive and headed in that direction.

To be continued…